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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 4, 1997)
ju s t o u t T april 4 , 1 0 0 7 ▼ 17 local news Video promotes equal marriage rights The Seattle-based Partners Task Force for Gay & Lesbian Couples has produced The Right to Marry, a new video that examines the many issues related to same-sex marriage. M and Aid to Families with Dependent Children. It also finds that there are likely to be significant social benefits to legalizing more marriages, with negligible costs to governments and businesses. “Unfortunately, much o f the current debate [about same-sex marriage] seems to be based on opinion, irrational conjecture and subjective moral judgm ents,” says Dr. M. V. Lee Badgett, an econo mist who co-authored the report. “In this paper we have attempted to take an unbiased look at the costs and benefits of recognizing these marriages based upon sound analysis and economic reason ing. We have found that recognizing more m ar riages would be good for the economy, for gov ernment budgets and society in general.” The complete report with the supplement can be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Institute for Gay and Lesbian Studies, PO Box 53036, W ashington, D.C., 2 0 0 0 9 -3 0 3 6 , or e-m ail S tep h an ie G rim at sgrim @ wam .um d.edu. Lesbian Health Matters to meet April 16 The Rev. Mel White The 72-minute production includes interviews with: the Rev. Mel W hite, known for his book Stranger at the Gate as well as his hunger strikes to confront Pat Robertson’s anti-gay rhetoric; Phyllis Burke, author of Family Values: A Les bian Mother’s Fight fo r Her Son, Richard Mohr, author o f A More Perfect Union', and Kevin Cathcart, executive director o f the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund. It also spotlights some same-sex couples who have sued for legal marriage rights. Partners Task Force has advocated for same- sex couples since it was established in 1986, and was an early proponent o f equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. The VHS stereo videotape costs $ 19 (plus $3 postage) and is available only from Partners Task Force, PO Box 9685, Seattle, WA 98109, or by c allin g (2 0 6 ) 9 3 5 -1 2 0 6 . C h ec k s, V ISA or M asterCard are accepted. A special 28-minute version of the video is available free o f charge to air on public access cable television stations. Partners Task Force is seeking volunteers to arrange for airings on local public access channels. W rite the task force, or e- mail at dem ian@ buddybuddy.com for contrac tual details. Partners Task Force also has a W eb site at: http://ww w .buddybuddy.com . The next meeting of Lesbian Health Matters, a group that advocates for lesbian health issues, is slated for April 16 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Unity Church, 4525 SE Stark St., in Portland. Anyone concerned with lesbian health matters is encour aged to attend. A Lesbian Health Matters workshop is also scheduled for April 30 from 7 to 8:30 pm at It’s My Pleasure, 4258 SE Hawthorne Blvd., in Port land. The event is free and open to the public. For more information about Lesbian Health Matters, call Betty at 248-3674, ext. 28266. n A U T O M O T I V E 282-3315 Certified Mechanics C o m p le te a u to m o tiv e service o f Japa ne se a n d A m e ric a n ca rs a n d lig h t trucks. S B G& 1 Ml A U T O M O T I V E in c Todd Connelly • 6006 E. Burnside 231*8486 TWENTY-THIRD AVENUE BOOKS 1015 N W 23rd A venue, Portland, O regon 97210, ( 503) 22 4 -5 0 9 7 Monday-Friday 9:30 - 8 pm □ Saturday 10 am - 8 pm □ Sunday 11 am * 4 pm Do you live or w ork in W ashington County? W e’re here for you!! The Washington County Health Department offers daily HIV testing and counseling, by appointment and walk-in, in two convenient locations: 155 North 1st Hillsboro Compiled by Inga Sorensen FA C O N SC IEN C E G e r a r d L illie • 5 9 3 4 N .E . H a ls e y Volunteers are being sought to assist with plans to bring The NAMES Project AIDS M emo rial Quilt to Portland. The only large display of the Quilt in Oregon this year is currently at W illamette U niversity’s Sparks Center, 900 State St., in Sa lem. The display is open to the public free of charge from 10 am to 9 pm on Friday, April 4, and 10 am to 3 pm Saturday, April 5; closing cerem o nies will take place at 3 pm on Saturday. Several planning committees o f the NAMES Project Portland chapter need members, includ ing those working on education, panel making, fund raising and media. For more information, call 650-7032. c s W ITH Portland NAMES Project seeks help with Quilt effort States would benefit from queer marriage, reveals report The Institute for Gay and Lesbian Studies recently released a state-by-state supplement to its 1996 report “For Richer, For Poorer: The Freedom to Marry Debate,” which in part exam ined the potential economic benefits to the federal government if same-sex marriages were legally recognized. The supplement provides information about the economic benefits for states currently facing same-sex marriage legislation, including Oregon and W ashington. Citing data indicating that marriage is “the most common route off welfare,” the new report suggests state governments could experience sig nificant savings in payments for means-tested financial assistance programs such as Medicaid e c h a 12550 SW 2nd Beaverton Other services include STD exams and treatment and a Wellness Program for individuals who are HIV positive. Call 648-8851 for an appointment